May 30, 2011

Remembering And Thanking Our Freedom Fighters

Thousands have given their lives in service to our country, for our domestic security and for freedom abroad.

A total of 4,435 patriots gave their lives in revolt against monarchical English rule. Those lives paid for our republican experiment that we continue to this day some 236 years after the first shot fired in Lexington.

364,511 Union Soldiers died in our Civil War, fighting to preserve the Union and later against slavery as well. Authoritative statistics for Confederate forces are not available. Estimates of the number who served range from 600,000 to 1,500,000. The final report of the Provost Marshal General, 1863-1866, American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics indicated 133,821 Confederate deaths (74,524 battle and 59,297 other) based upon incomplete returns. In addition, an estimated 26,000 to 31,000 Confederate personnel died in Union prisons.

116,516 Americans died in WWI and 405,399 died in support of the Allies effort in WWII. 36,574 died in Korea and 58,220 in Vietnam. 6,013 Americans have given their lives in the current fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. See here and here.

Further, thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines lose their lives each year in training accidents and in personnel injuries while training and while serving our country. The government is not real open with these statistics, since they reveal that military service is a high risk occupation, particularly for those that serve in the combat arms. See, e.g. here.

Thank a current or former service member and pray for our service members. If you served our country – Thank you!

We should work hard to end the ongoing fiscal irresponsibility that threatens our national heritage from within, the heritage that so many paid the ultimate price to preserve.